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PoiDog
Lokahi
245 Posts |
 Posted - 11/05/2009 : 10:42:21 PM
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I lost my kid brother on 3 November. He was with HPD for almost 35 years. He started there at 18 years old as a Cadet. He died just short of 54 years old. He always felt that he would beat the cancer that eventually took his life. Well, he fought like a SOB, but this last fight was lost over the course of the past 6 months. He could have retired long ago, but he loved working in downtown Honolulu; and he loved the people he worked with. He truly believed he would be back with his crew on the streets of Honolulu. Some of you may remember that I was able to attend 2 kanikapila sessions because I was helping his family and spending time with him in Kaneohe.
I write this with some sadness, because I literally nagged him into retirement and on 28 September, we walked together into the retirement office, and he put in his papers, with his retirement effective 1 November 2009. By 22 October, because of tumors on his spine compressing his spinal cord, he lost his ability to walk and I had to wheel him through HPD HQ as he turned in his gear and cleared out his stuff. Sadly, he didn't get to enjoy a single day of his retirement. Fortunately, his family will receive his retirement benefits, but if he hadn't put his paperwork in when he did, his family would have only received what he contributed into the state retirement system; much less than the full benefit they were entitled.
If there is a message here, let it be this. Please think long and hard about your survivors and their entitlements. Please try to balance the love of your job or profession and not let your decision(s) become clouded. We are not invincible...NO $#IT...we are NOT! (Small kine sarcasm...) In the case of my brother, he cut things very close...too close, in fact. Now, his children cannot enjoy HIM.
Aloha Brother Will; Metropolitan Police Sergeant, Will Russell Ka`ai Cluney (53), Honolulu PD.
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Aloha,
da Poi Dog |
Edited by - PoiDog on 11/05/2009 10:45:31 PM |
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Peter Medeiros
`Olu`olu
546 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 05:54:31 AM
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Dear John,
We will pray for your brother, his family, you and all the Moloka'i ohana. Four days between retirement and death is too close. It was good that you were there for him and the family to make sure they were okay. If I can help just contact me.
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Admin
Pupule
USA
4551 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 07:35:11 AM
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| Sorry to hear about your brother. His family will be in our prayers. Thanks for posting your experience for our benefit. |
Andy |
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Hookani
Lokahi
232 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 08:21:21 AM
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John, sorry to hear about your brother. My thoughts are with you and your family. Come down to the Waimea Kanikapila on da 15th and play a song for him.
Ho'okani |
Ke Kani Nahe
YouTube
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Ben
Lokahi
USA
122 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 11:06:19 AM
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| Very sorry to hear about your brother. So young. He sounds like a good man, and so are you for looking out for him and his family. You and the rest of his family will be in our thoughts and prayers. |
Mālama pono
Ben |
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PoiDog
Lokahi
245 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 2:08:08 PM
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| Mahalo for your kindness everyone. |
Aloha,
da Poi Dog |
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rendesvous1840
Ha`aha`a
USA
1055 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 5:49:01 PM
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Sorry to hear this. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family.
Unko Paul & Auntie Wanda. |
"A master banjo player isn't the person who can pick the most notes.It's the person who can touch the most hearts." Patrick Costello |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2009 : 5:09:37 PM
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John,
So sorry to hear about your kid brother. What you described to us is so filled with your love for your brother and his family. It made me stop and think of my family. We should all be so lucky as to have a big brother like you. You are one very special Uncle.
E Malama Pono |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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PoiDog
Lokahi
245 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2009 : 08:04:07 AM
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Mahalo everyone, especially Duke, Jay and Terry (e kala mai) for the vid tribute...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFObSiUxvKc
HPD gave him an all-time procession...bikes, cars and even Air-One; they took us from Nu`uanu up the pali to Kane`ohe and back, then down through downtown to the station on Beretania then back up to Nu`uanu Mortuary. Another police officer's mother finished this quilt for the services.
We had 3 canoes and took Will's ashes out to sea to be with our Dad on Saturday near First Break, Waikiki.
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Aloha,
da Poi Dog |
Edited by - PoiDog on 11/25/2009 06:56:45 AM |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 11/25/2009 : 1:02:44 PM
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| That quilt is amazing, as befitting your beloved brother, I am sure. We weep with you, brother. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
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Auē! Auē! Auē nohoʻi ē!
